Terry warp feeding apparatus

ABSTRACT

Feed means for terry warp which include positive feed means for drawing terry warp from a supply beam, a movable compensator for engaging the terry warp between the feed means and the beat-up reed and actuating means for moving the compensator toward the terry warp to take up slack terry warp from the feed means and for moving the compensator away from the warp to release terry warp at the time terry loops are being formed by the reed.

I Umted States Patent 1 1 1 1 3,920,052

s n 1 51 Nov. 18, 1975 1 TERRY WARP FEEDING APPARATUS 1,665274 4/1928 Neisler 139/25 Inventor: Howard L Nelson G on Mass- 3,746,052 7/1973 Burgess et a1 139/102 [73] Assignee: Crompton & Knowles Corporation, Primary Examiner Hemy g j d Worcester, Mass.

[22] Filed: Oct. 23, 1973 [57 ABSTRACT [2]] Appl- 408,351 Feed means for terry warp which include positive feed means for drawing terry warp from a supply beam, a 52 us. c1 139/25; 139/102 movable compensator for engaging the terry Warp [51] Int. Cl. D031) 39/22; DO3D 49/12 tween the feed means and the P feed and actu- 5 Field f Search 139/25, 26, 100, 101, 102, ating means for moving the compensator toward the 139/114, 115 terry warp to take up slack terry warp from the feed means and for moving the compensator away from the 5 References Cited warp to release terry warp at the time terry loops are UNITED STATES PATENTS bemg formed by the reed- 645,525 3/1900 Hutchins 139/102 6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,920,052

U.S. Patent Nov; 18; 1975 Sheet20f2 3,920,052

TERRY W'ARP FEEDING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to terry looms and more particularly to improvements in the feeding of terry warp from a terry warp beam to the weaving instrumentalities of such looms.

Generally, terry looms are equipped with a positive feeding device or terry warp let-off which is driven by a ratchet mechanism controlled by a pattern device for quickly withdrawing and delivering terry warp from the terry warp beam to the weaving instrumentalities at the time that the terry loops are being formed. The terry warp beams are very heavy and require a large pulling force to overcome the inertia of the beam. Since the terry warp has to be fed over a short period of time, the terry warp let-off must function veryquickly. This results in a very abrupt and strong pulling force which causes stretching and possible breakage of the terry warp. There is also a possibility of overrunning the warp beam once that its inertia has been overcome, thus affecting the accuracy of terry warp feed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the invention to provide a terry warp let-off which will allow terry warp to be drawn from the supply beam at a controlled rate over a longer period of time and which avoids abrupt pulling forces.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a terry warp let-off which makes available to the weaving instrumentalities a sufficient amount of terry warp which is under a minimum of tension at the time of terry loop formation.

The objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a positive feeding mechanism for drawing terry warp from the terry beam throughout most of the entire terry cycle which includes, in most cases, two partial beat-ups followed by a full beat-up, Many types of positive feed devices could be used provided that the feed is spread out over a relatively long period of time.

.A movable compensator is located between the positive feeding mechanism and the weaving instrumentalities and includes a surface for engaging the terry warp. Actuating ,means move the compensator so that this surface moves toward the terry warp during most of the terry cycle for holding the warp under tension as it is being drawn from the terry beam. The actuating means move the compensator so that the terry warp engaging surface moves away from the terry warpto release it to the weaving instrumentalities during the portion of the terry cycle when the warp is needed for forming the terry loops.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a terry'loom with the invention applied thereto, portions being broken away; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the actuating means. DETAILED DE- SCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings there is shown a terry loom, generally indicated at 10., which includes a frame 12, a lay 14, a reed attached to the lay, heddles 16, a ground warp beam 18 and a terry warp beam 20. The ground warp, indicated at 22, is formed in sheds through which weft is inserted to form the base cloth.

The terrywarp, indicated at 24, lies in both the upper and lower sheds indicated by dot and dash lines 26 and 28, respectively.

The loom is operated in cycles of three weft insertions or picks. The reed 15 is brought to a position rearward of the fell of the cloth for the first two picks for partial beat-ups and to the fell during the third pick for a full beatup. This partial beat-up point is indicated at 30 and the full beat-up point is indicated at 32 coincident with the fell. In FIG. I the reed is shown in the partial beat-up position 30. During the first two picks there is no appreciable demand for terry warp but during the third pick, the terry warp which had been crossed from the first pick to the second will be pinched between the two weft yarns inserted during the first two picks. The weft yarns will slide along the ground warp to the fell and the terry warp which extends between the two beat-up positions will be formed into terry loops. It is during this period that demand for terry warp is greatest. I

The apparatus for positively feeding terry warp is indicated generally by the reference numeral 34 and includes two abutting feed rollers 35 and 36 which are fixed to shafts 37 and 38, respectively, rotatably mounted in frame 12. A ratchet gear 39 is fixed to shaft 37. Terry warp 24 extends down from beam 20 to roll 35, between rolls 35 and 36, and down from roll 36.

The mechanism for rotating ratchet gear 39 includes a pawl 40 pivotally connected at 41 to one arm of a first bell crank lever 42 which is pivoted on shaft 37. A first rod 44 is pivoted at 46 to the other arm of lever 42 and pivoted at 48 to one arm of a second bell crank lever 50 which is pivoted at 52. A second rod 54 is pivoted at 56 to the other arm of lever 50 and pivoted at 58 to a lever 60 pivoted on a shaft 62. A follower 64 is attached to the end'of lever 60 and is held in engagement with the surface 66 of a cam 68 by a spring 70. Cam 68 is fixed to a shaft 72 which makes one rotation for every three weft insertions or picks. Cam 68 is effective to reciprocate lever 60 once during each three pick cycle. When lever 60 is moved counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 1, first and second bell crank levers 42 and 50 willalso be rocked counterclockwise and pawl 40 will advance ratchet 39 counterclockwise the distance of one tooth. Surface 66 is designed so that pawl 40 advances the ratchet 39 over a relatively large por- The terry warp which is drawn from the beam 20 by I the positive feeding-apparatus is taken up by a movable compensator generally indicated by the reference numeral 71 and includes a lever 73 pivoted at 74 to the loom frame 12 and a bar 76 which extends across the width of the loom. Bar 76 has a rounded surface 78 for engaging the terry warp. One end of a third rod 80 is pivotally connected at 82 to a lever 84 which is fixed to bar 76. The other end of rod 80 is pivotally connected at 86 to a lever 88 pivotally connected at 90 to the frame l2. One end of a fourth rod 92 extends through an opening 93 in the lower end of lever 88. The opposite end of rod 92 is pivotally connected at 94 to a lever .96 pivoted on shaft 62. A follower is attached to the end of lever 96 and is held against the surface 102 Ofa cam 104 by a spring 106. Cam 104 is fixed to shaft 72 and makes one rotation for every three picks. Referring to the upper end of rod 92, there is a first compression spring 107 loosely mounted on rod 92 between a first collar 108 and one side of lever 88. A

second spring 110 is loosely mounted on rod 92 be tween a second collar 112 and the opposite side of lever 88. Collars 108 and 112 are slidably mounted on rod 92 and can be fixed to any desired position on the rod by screws 114.

Rod 92 is reciprocated by cam 104 once for every three picks. Movement of rod 92 upwardly as viewed in the drawings urges spring 107 against lever 88 and rocks it clockwise. This causes lever 73 to rock clockwise and move surface 78 towards the terry warp to take up the warp emerging from roll 36. When rod 92 is moved downwardly as viewed in the drawings, spring 110 is urged against the opposite side of lever 88 and rocks the lever in a counterclockwise direction. The effect of the counterclockwise rocking of lever 88 causes lever 73 to be rocked counterclockwise and move surface 78 away from the terry warp and make terry warp available to the weaving instrumentalities. Surface 102 of cam 104 is designed so that surface 78 moves toward the terry warp during much of the rotation of the cam, preferably the first two picks and a portion of the third pick of a three pick cycle. Surface 78 will be moved away from the terry warp relatively quickly a little before and during the portion of the third pick when terry loops are being formed so that enough terry yarn will be available under a minimum of tension for forming the terry loops. This quick motion is produced by the rather sharp rise indicated at 116 in cam surface 102.

Springs 107 and 110 are effective to dampen the initial surge of motion from rod 92. In addition, spring 107 allows rod 92 to be moved more than would be necessary to move surface 78 the exact amount required to take up all of the terry warp emerging from the feed rolls 35 and 36. This will compensate for variations in warp feed and maintain the terry warp under tension during the period of time it is being accumulated by compensator 71.

Means are also provided for disengaging the pawl 40 for weaving sections of flat cloth or borders where no terry loops are formed. The loom is equipped with a pattern mechanism or dobby 118 and mechanism, not shown, under control of the dobby causing the reed to beat'up to the fell on every pick for continuous full beat-ups. When the pattern mechanism calls for periods of flat weaving, pawl 40 is rocked clockwise and lifted out of engagement with ratchet gear 39 by linkage means generally indicated at 120 which are controlled from the dobby 118. Means, not shown, are also provided for disengaging shaft 72 during weaving of flat cloth.

Having now described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a terry loom having a supply beam for terry warp and a reed which is reciprocated in cycles of partial beat-ups followed by a full beat-up at which time terry loops are formed, feeding means for the terry warp comprising:

a. positive feed means for drawing terry warp from said supply beam at the same rate for partial beatups and full beat-ups;

bv a movably mounted compensator having'a surface for engaging said terry warp between said positive feed means and reed; and

c. actuating means driven in timed relation with said reed for moving said compensator so that said surface is moved toward terry warp to maintain them under tension during the portion of each terry cycle when terry loops are not being formed and away from said terry warp to release terry warp for loop forming during the portion of each terry cycle when terry loops are being formed.

2. In a terry loom as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a resilient connection acting on said compensator to maintain said terry warp under tension when said surface is moved toward said terry warp.

3. In a terry loom as set forth in claim 1 actuating means comprises:

a. a cam which makes one rotation for every three beat-ups;

b. a cam follower; and

c. resilient connecting means operatively connecting said cam follower to said compensator.

4. In a terry loom as set forth in claim 3 wherein said resilient connecting means comprises:

a. a first spring operatively connected to said compensator for urging said compensator so that said surface is moved toward said terry warp upon tensioning of said first spring;

b. a second spring operatively connected to said compensator for urging said compensator so that said surface is moved away from said terry loops upon tensioning of said second spring; and

c. an elongated rod mounted for reciprocation by said cam follower for tensioning said first spring upon being moved in one directionand for tensioning said second spring upon being moved in the opposite direction.

5. In a terry loom set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises:

a. a cam which makes one rotation for every three beat-ups;

b. a cam follower;

c. a lever operatively connected to said compensator;

d. an elongated rod mounted for relative motion therewith and which is mounted for reciprocation in a first direction and a second direction by said cam follower;

e. a first compression spring mounted on said rod for engagement with one side of said lever and which is compressed by said rod when said rod is moved in said first direction, said first compression spring being effective when compressed to urge said surface toward said terry warp yarns; and

f. a second compression spring mounted on said rod for engagement with the opposite side of said lever and for compression by said rod upon movement of said rod in said second direction, said second compression spring being effective when compressed to urge said surface away from said terry warp.

6. [n a terry loom as set forth in claim 1 wherein said compensator comprises:

a. a fixed support;

b. a lever, one end of which is pivotally mounted on said support; and

c. an elongated member attached to the other end of said lever and extending across the width of the loom, said elongated member having a rounded surface for engagement with said terry warp.

wherein said UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3920052 DATED November 18, 1975 INVENTOR(S) Howard I. Nelson It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 68, the Word said should appear before the Word "reed".

Column 4, line 3, the Word said should appear after the word "toward".

Signed and Sealed this seventeenth D 3} of February I 976 [SEAL] Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN A nesting Officer 

1. In a terry loom having a supply beam for terry warp and a reed which is reciprocated in cycles of partial beat-ups followed by a full beat-up at which time terry loops are formed, feeding means for the terry warp comprising: a. positive feed means for drawing terry warp from said supply beam at the same rate for partial beat-ups and full beat-ups; b. a movably mounted compensator having a surface for engaging said terry warp between said positive feed means and reed; and c. actuating means driven in timed relation with said reed for moving said compensator so that said surface is moved toward terry warp to maintain them under tension during the portion of each terry cycle when terry loops are not being formed and away from said terry warp to release terry warp for loop forming during the portion of each terry cycle when terry loops are being formed.
 2. In a terry loom as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a resilient connection acting on said compensator to maintain said terry warp under tension when said surface is moved toward said terry warp.
 3. In a terry loom as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises: a. a cam which makes one rotation for every three beat-ups; b. a cam follower; and c. resilient connecting means operatively connecting said cam follower to said compensator.
 4. In a terry loom as set forth in claim 3 wherein said resilient connecting means comprises: a. a first spring operatively connected to said compensator for urging said compensator so that said surface is moved toward saId terry warp upon tensioning of said first spring; b. a second spring operatively connected to said compensator for urging said compensator so that said surface is moved away from said terry loops upon tensioning of said second spring; and c. an elongated rod mounted for reciprocation by said cam follower for tensioning said first spring upon being moved in one direction and for tensioning said second spring upon being moved in the opposite direction.
 5. In a terry loom set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises: a. a cam which makes one rotation for every three beat-ups; b. a cam follower; c. a lever operatively connected to said compensator; d. an elongated rod mounted for relative motion therewith and which is mounted for reciprocation in a first direction and a second direction by said cam follower; e. a first compression spring mounted on said rod for engagement with one side of said lever and which is compressed by said rod when said rod is moved in said first direction, said first compression spring being effective when compressed to urge said surface toward said terry warp yarns; and f. a second compression spring mounted on said rod for engagement with the opposite side of said lever and for compression by said rod upon movement of said rod in said second direction, said second compression spring being effective when compressed to urge said surface away from said terry warp.
 6. In a terry loom as set forth in claim 1 wherein said compensator comprises: a. a fixed support; b. a lever, one end of which is pivotally mounted on said support; and c. an elongated member attached to the other end of said lever and extending across the width of the loom, said elongated member having a rounded surface for engagement with said terry warp. 